The 2006 Howell Mountain has already gone into hiding, but there is no doubting its enormous weight, richness, note of graphite, and minerality. The wine possesses enormous concentration and richness as well as lots of blue and... Read More
Abreu's first venture with Cabernet Sauvignon was from the Madrona Ranch, which is essentially the lower hillsides of Spring Mountain, just northwest of St. Helena. The dense purple-colored 2006 Madrona Ranch (55% Cabernet... Read More
The 2006 Thorevilos exhibits an extraordinary floral aroma backed up by scents of blueberries, blackberries, espresso roast, and an incredible liqueur of rocks-like component. The compelling floweriness, blue and black fruits,... Read More
WA 92 (12/2009): The sexy, opulent, floral, blackberry and black currant-scented and flavored, medium to full-bodied 2006 Syrah Eisele Vineyard displays a seductive quality that is hard to ignore. I would opt for drinking it over... Read More
One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone. In fact, while tasting it, I was thinking, is there any estate in Bordeaux that, since 1998, has made as many legendary wines as proprietor Alain Vauthier... Read More
One of the handful of candidates for wine of the vintage is the 2006 Ausone. In fact, while tasting it, I was thinking, is there any estate in Bordeaux that, since 1998, has made as many legendary wines as proprietor Alain Vauthier... Read More
This is a wine that I appear to have badly misjudged when tasting out of barrel. I had the bottled 26 Bellevue several times, and it was consistently hard, austere, and lean. Generally I love what this great terroir, surrounded... Read More
This tiny, 5-acre vineyard with nearly 50-year old vines produces only 4,000 bottles from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The broodingly tannic, backward 2006 is remarkably concentrated, pure, and deep. It is an... Read More
From the valley floor vineyard in Oakville, the 2006 St. Eden has shed some of its tannic clout of last year and taken on a generously endowed style, with stunning black fruits, roasted herbs, sweet cassis, graphite, and new oak.... Read More
The 2006 E Pluribus, like all of these Cabernet Sauvignons, is youthful, with an opaque purple color and a big, sweet nose of blueberry liqueur intermixed with spring flowers and wet rocks. Full-bodied, powerful, and backward,... Read More
The newest entry into these single-vineyard wines (which are virtually all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is the 2006 Quella. Dense purple, this wine comes across as the most austere of any of these wines. This dense, rich, elegant... Read More
The 2006 Vecina is another fabulous wine. Fresh, delineated and pedigreed to the core, the 2006 exudes class. I am especially struck by how young the 2006 tastes. Along with the 2008, the 2006 belongs to the family of more mineral-driven... Read More
A very strong effort, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a sweet perfume of blue and black fruits intermixed with hints of toasty oak, graphite, truffles, and forest floor. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated with remarkably silky... Read More
The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc (80% Roussanne and the rest Marsanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc) possesses classic notes of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, and rose petals, a full-bodied, unctuous texture, gorgeous purity and... Read More
It is worth noting that when the bottled 2006 Chateau Margaux, which appeared closed and less impressive than I had predicted from barrel, was retasted alongside the remarkable 2008, I elevated my score to 94+. It does not possess... Read More
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate appears to have completely shut down, not surprising as Montelena's Cabernet Sauvignons typically need plenty of time. The 2006 reveals medium to full body, austere tannins and lots of red... Read More
The brilliant 2006 Cheval Blanc performed better from bottle than from barrel. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot grown in a superb vineyard site facing La Conseillante and l'Evangile at the very edge of the... Read More
Proprietor Berenice Lurton continues to turn out one of the utterly profound wines from the Barsac Sauternes region. The 2006 is not up there with their perfect 2001, but it is a beautiful wine and stands out as one of the top... Read More